A Novel and Potentially Valuable Exposure Measure: Escherichia coli in Oral Cavity and its Association with Child DayCare Center Attendance

This study investigated the occurrence of Escherichia coli, an indicator of fecal contamination, in saliva samples from 141 children up to 36 months old, 53 not attending and 88 attending a child daycare center after exposure to a public daycare center and home environments. Two samples from each child were collected on the same day at 07:00 and 15:00 h and plated on MacConkey agar for identification. Samples E. coli negative in the morning and positive in the afternoon were statistically associated with the condition of the child attending daycare center (Odds ratio = 2.72; 95% confidence interval = 1.15/6.46). Exposure to the daycare center environment favored the potential risk of transmission of enteropathogens, as demonstrated by the presence of E. coli in saliva. the method proved to be easy to sample, non-invasive and feasible in young children. the findings suggest a novel and potentially valuable exposure measure.Univ Oeste Paulista, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Food Qual Control Lab, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Food Qual Control Lab, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Evaluation of IgG and IgM anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies in parturient women and their newborns in the municipality of Presidente Prudente and region, State of São Paulo Pesquisa de anticorpos IgG e IgM para citomegalovírus em parturientes e recém-natos do município de Presidente Prudente e região, Estado de São Paulo

Primary infection by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is usually followed by a persistent and/or recurrent infection. In most cases the infection is sub-clinical, but it can eventually be acute. This paper aims to evaluate by ELISA the frequency of IgG and IgM anti-CMV antibodies in 86 samples of parturient women and their newborns living in Presidente Prudente, SP, and vicinities. The samples were collected at Dr.Domingos Cerávolo University Hospital. Three parturient women (3.5%) were negative for anti-CMV antibodies, and 83(96.5%) were positive for IgG only. About the newborns, 83(96.5%) were positive for IgG only, 2(2.3%) where positive for both antibodies, and 1(1,2%) was negative for both antibodies. Results showed a high frequency of IgG anti-CMV antibodies in parturient women and their newborns. Moreover, we detected a relative high frequency of CMV congenitally infected newborns in this population, which might have an important impact on the amount of children with neurological and other diseases due to the virus infection<br>A infecção primária pelo citomegalovírus (CMV) é freqüentemente seguida por infecção persistente e/ou recorrente. Na grande maioria dos casos a infecção é subclínica, podendo ser aguda em certas condições. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar por ELISA a freqüência de anticorpos IgG e IgM para CMV, em 86 parturientes e seus recém-natos (RNs) provenientes do Hospital Universitário Dr. Domingos Cerávolo, Presidente Prudente, Estado de São Paulo. Os dados demonstraram que 83 parturientes (96,5%) apresentaram anticorpos IgG anti-CMV e 3(3,5%) não apresentaram anticorpos anti-CMV. Quanto aos RNs, 1(1,2%) não apresentou anticorpos anti-CMV, 83(96,5%) apresentaram anticorpos IgG e 2(2,3%) apresentaram anticorpos IgM, caracterizando infecção aguda. Verificamos, assim, uma alta freqüência de anticorpos IgG para CMV em gestantes e RNs, bem como uma relativa alta freqüência de RNs infectados congenitamente pelo CMV nessa população, o que pode ter um impacto importante no número de crianças com problemas neurológicos e outros decorrentes da infecção por esse víru

Stepping into a dangerous quagmire: Macroecological determinants of Bothrops envenomings, Brazilian Amazon.

Despite significant and successful efforts in Brazil regarding snakebites in the areas of research, antivenom manufacture and quality control, training of health professionals in the diagnosis and clinical management of bites, little is known about determinants of snakebites incidence in order to further plan interventions to reduce the impact of this medical condition. Understanding the complexity of ecological interactions in a geographical region is important for prediction, prevention and control measures of snakebites. This investigation aims to describe spatial distribution and identify environmental determinants of human envenoming by lancehead pit vipers (Bothrops genus), in the Brazilian Amazon. Aggregated data by the municipality was used to analyze the spatial distribution of Bothrops bites cases and its relationship with geographic and environmental factors. Eight geo-environmental factors were included in the analysis as independent variables: (1) tree canopy loss increase; (2) area with vegetation cover; (3) area covered by water bodies; (4) altitude; (5) precipitation; (6) air relative humidity; (7) soil moisture; and (8) air temperature. Human envenoming by lancehead pit vipers (Bothrops genus) in the Amazon region is more incident in lowlands [Adjusted regression coefficient [ARC] -0.0007 (IC95%: -0.001; -0.0006), p<0.0001], with high preserved original vegetation cover [ARC 0.0065 (IC95%: 0.0071; 0.0060), p<0.0001], with heaviest rainfall [ARC 0.0001 (IC95%: 0.00009; 0.0001), p<0.0001] and higher air relative humidity [ARC 0.0082 (IC95%: 0.0108; 0.0056), p<0.0001]. This association is interpreted as the result of the higher prey availability and further abundance of pit vipers in such landscapes